Address by Parliamentary Secretary Pamela Goldsmith-Jones at the Women in Parliaments Global Forum

Speech

May 3, 2016 – Amman, Jordan

Check against delivery. This speech has been translated in accordance with the official languages policy and edited for posting and distribution in accordance with the Government of Canada’s communications policy.

Good evening, distinguished guests and colleagues. I am thrilled to be here on behalf of the Government of Canada, and in support of Jordan’s ambition to champion women’s rights through our collective engagement this week and in the months ahead.

As we know, only about 22 percent of all parliamentarians at the state level are women. In Canada, we are just slightly above that, at 26 percent.

However, as you may have heard, we have a new prime minister in Canada! Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed a cabinet of 30 people: 15 are women and 15 are men. He appointed 36 parliamentary secretaries like me: half are men and half are women. Influence at the highest levels of elected office today, in Canada, is shared equally between women and men.

The mandate letter for Foreign Affairs states that we are responsible for “re-energizing Canadian diplomacy and leadership by championing the values of inclusive and accountable governance, peaceful pluralism and respect for diversity and human rights, including the rights of women and refugees.”

We know that this is simply not possible without the full participation of women—in politics, in the economy, in health and education, in peace and security.

Today an equal role for women underpins Canada’s engagement with the world.

Last month, Canada was elected to serve a four-year term at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. This is a great honour for us, and we are grateful for the support.

We created, in 2010, a national action plan on women, peace and security to give meaning and drive results regarding resolution 1325, but I regret to say that our implementation has been poor.

All of us share responsibility for resolution 1325.

There are good examples, like the notable exceptions of Guatemala in the 1990s and Colombia in 2014. But mostly, women are simply not being included in peace processes even when we know that outcomes are better when they are. I am personally deeply committed to joining with you so the world’s women can achieve greater personal, community and global security.

Given Canada’s commitment to promoting greater gender equality and inclusive governance, I am very pleased to announce tonight a $16-million project with the Forum of Federations, based in Ottawa.

Over the next seven years, Empowering Women for Leadership Roles in the Middle East and North Africa Region will support over 5,400 women in Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco to increase their participation, empowerment and, of course, success, in parliamentary positions.

We are in this together. As I speak, Canada is going through its own painful and necessary truth and reconciliation experience with our First Nations peoples.

Notably, our three women ministers of the status of women, health, and justice are completing personal family meetings with those indigenous families affected by the atrocious fact that over 1,400 indigenous women have been murdered or are missing, and had—up until now—been largely forgotten by mainstream society.

Our ministers are intent on designing an investigation that respects and values the victims and their families, and the healing we need to do, as Canadian society.

As Sally Armstrong says in her book Ascent of Women, “The world can no longer afford to oppress half its population.”

And it is women who will make serious progress on human rights.

In Canada, our Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, with 10 parliamentarians from all parties, has made women, peace and security its first priority. The committee has been hearing testimony for a few months.

Recently, we heard from Julie Delahanty, Executive Director of Oxfam Canada. The chair of the committee asked her, “What would it take to have more women involved in peace and security initiatives?” She looked right at him and she said, “Invite them.”

The next few days are a grand invitation to each and every one of us to join together and build the global community we know we need.

I am honoured to be among you. Canada is your steadfast ally.

Thank you for inviting us.

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